Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Program

LL.M. Candidate Soniya Nahata is of Indian origin, born in the US, and brought?up in Belgium. She completed?her B.A. in Politics and International Relations from SOAS University of London, and GDL from Nottingham Law School. Soniya's experience as a legal researcher, her work with a human rights lawyer, and her yoga practice inspired her to pursue a degree in Environmental and Energy Law. At Georgetown University Law Center Soniya has pursued classes?that have?given her a deeper understanding of the nexus between environmental regulation and technological innovation (AI), energy policy, human rights, tax, administrative?law, and land use regulation.

On February 12th, we welcomed Mayor Endo from Hirono Town to discuss?the journey of rebuilding the town in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear accident of 2011. The mayor shed light on the many obstacles the town faced, as well as the hard work and resilience they showed?in their path from destruction?to recovery. We know that many of you may have missed the event because of the snow day, so if you would like to know more, here is a link to the lecture:?https://lnkd.in/dG_Pm89Y Extending a special thanks to Carl Bruch and Professor Mikiyasu Nakayama for their contributions! #nuclearaccident #recovery #resilience #environmentalharm #carefortheenvironment #environment #japan #fukushima #hironotown

Yuri Rattanaboonsen?is an LL.M. candidate specializing in Environmental and Energy Law at Georgetown University. She is currently serving as a Foreign Law Intern at the Law Library of Congress. Before pursuing graduate studies, Yuri gained experience in the public sector at the national level, contributing to policies and measures addressing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy innovation. She also worked as a legal analyst and adviser, focusing on renewable energy projects and energy policy. Yuri’s professional background includes her role as a Business Tax Associate at Deloitte, where she provided strategic tax advisory services to international clients, and her internship at Deloitte Corporate & Commercial Legal, as well as her experience in arbitration and mediation at the Thai Arbitration Center, where she gained expertise in resolving complex domestic and international disputes.

Sharaza Shalita is a Rwandan national with an interest in Energy and Natural Resource Development. She got her Bachelor’s of Law from the University of Bristol, graduating in 2022 and a Diploma of Legal Practice from the Institute of Legal Practice and Development in Nyanza, Rwanda. Sharaza has prioritized classes positioning herself to work in dispute resolution on environmental issues. Once she graduates from Georgetown University Law Center in May 2025, Sharaza hopes to begin a robust career working with organizations that develop Africa’s resources in an ethical manner to address Climate Change concerns and assist development in Africa.

Last weekend a delegation from Georgetown University Law Center attended the 'New Directions in Environmental Law Conference' 2025 hosted at Yale Law School. LL.M Candidate Madeleine Pumberger and J.D. Candidate Isaac Worsham presented posters showing their research. Madeleine presented on navigating stranded assets to achieve a low carbon energy market. Isaac shared his insights on the desiccation of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. LL.M. Candidate Sharaza Shalita acted as a reporter for the conference. Our Program Director Lydia Slobodian spoke on a panel on 'New Directions in Biodiversity Law', covering a range of topics from rights of nature to the relationship between biodiversity and climate change. The conversations in the conference was centered around the challenges encountered in the past year. Discussions were focussed around the reversed central doctrines of Administrative Law, the increased experienced effects of climate change and biodiversity loss by communities around the world, and a bolstered effort by international courts who have started issuing advisory opinions on climate change. Attendees from all over the country came together to analyze these emerging issues in environmental law. Extending a special thanks to Yale Law School, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, Yale School of the Environment, Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, Pace Haub Environmental Law Program, Yale Graduate & Professional Student Senate, American Bar Association, Law Students for Climate Accountability , Goldman Sonnenfeldt Environmental Protection Clinic and the Yale Environmental Law Association for sponsoring the event!

Natalia Martínez Pacheco is a lawyer from Colombia with nearly a decade of experience in corporate and transactional law, both in top-tier law firms and as in-house counsel. She is an admitted attorney in her home country and holds a Bachelor's degree with postgraduate studies in corporate law from La Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Until recently, Natalia was part of the Corporate Governance team of the parent company of a prominent energy corporate group with a strong presence in Latin America’s electricity and natural gas sectors. She is pursuing GULC’s LL.M. in Environmental and Energy Law as a merit scholar and plans to sit for the New York Bar Exam in July 2025. Afterwards, Natalia aims to leverage her expertise in corporate law and growing knowledge of the U.S. environmental regulation and decarbonizing strategies to facilitate Colombia’s energy transition. She is committed to rethinking traditional corporate governance structures - such as decision-making processes, accountability, fiduciary duties, and information disclosure - to ensure that energy companies meet their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments as key players of the decarbonization efforts.

Environmental Law addresses various issues, and encompasses a broad range of tools that we can leverage in order to protect our environment. Learn what environmental law means to our faculty who all work and specialize and work on intricate and diverse environmental matters. We kick off this series with Professor Lydia Slobodian, here’s what she has to say!

Meet Eduany Pedro, a current Environmental and Energy Law LL.M. student from Angola! In this video, he shares his journey and invaluable insights for prospective students! From making a meaningful impact in his community to shaping the future of Environmental and Energy Law, Eduany is proving that education at Georgetown University Law Center empowers students to lead with purpose. We're excited to watch all that he continues to accomplish, both during his time here and beyond. ???? #GeorgetownLaw #LLM #EnvironmentalLaw #EnergyLaw #FutureLeaders #ImpactfulEducation

*Announcement* Due to the weather conditions we have decided to proceed with the lecture virtually! Please contact the email at the bottom of the poster for zoom link details.

Next Wednesday at noon, we will be hosting Mayor Satoshi Endo of Hirono Town, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, to discuss the town's incredible journal of recovery and resilience following the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.?We look forward to seeing you there!